Basketball club practice ended.
Today, it was Tendou and a few others—like Murasakibara—who stayed behind to clean up.
Once everything was done, he changed back into his clothes, threw on his beloved sunglasses, and was ready to leave.
"Wait up, Tendou."
"Huh?"
Tendou turned around and saw it was Coach Shirogane Kōzō calling out to him.
He exchanged a glance with Murasakibara, then stayed behind while the others headed out first.
...
Sunset.
One old man and one teenager—two of Teikō's most important people—stood together by a vending machine.
"Wanna drink Coke?"
"I'll just have water."
Tendou sat down casually, slouched like he wasn't about to have a serious conversation with an elder at all.
Shirogane didn't mind.
This was the Tendou he knew—brazen, untad Tendou.
"So? What's this about?"
"Be the pillar of Teikō, Tendou."
That line… felt like it was from the wrong show.
"Coach, this is basketball, not Prince of Tennis. Don't mix up your lines."
"Ahem…"
Shirogane coughed awkwardly.
Didn't he once say when Riko was reborn that he didn't watch ani?
Now he's exposing himself with just one line.
『As expected of you, Tendou. You always say what I want to say.』
『Wrong show, bro! LMAO.』
『Still acting like he's unaffected. Must be bottling it all up.』
『Poor cat-boy…』
A week had passed—enough ti for fans to cool off.
The emotional aftershocks still lingered, but everyone could see sothing was brewing.
At the end of last episode, Tendou's eyes were dazzling—like constellations. Clearly OP.
"Wouldn't Akashi or Midorima be a better fit?"
Tendou took a sip of water.
Nijimura Shūzō was graduating soon, and because of his family situation, they were moving to the States for better treatnt options.
"Normally, yeah. Akashi and Midorima are solid choices."
"They're more composed, more mature, more level-headed—"
"Hey, hey, hey—are you saying I'm less mature than those two kids?!"
"Chill. Let
finish."
Shirogane chuckled and continued:
"But what you have, they don't—fire."
"Teikō doesn't need a cookie-cutter captain. We need soone who can rally everyone together. Soone with charisma. That's you, Tendou."
"So you insult
first, then complint ? What am I, a toddler? And I literally just lost my wife!"
Unity?
Please.
If the Generation of Miracles were all goody-two-shoes, where would the drama co from?
Where would the ratings co from?
He needed to rival them, not babysit them.
"Pain is a catalyst for growth. I might not be around much longer, either. Fujimura can't run the club alone. He'll need your help."
Tendou looked at him.
Shirogane didn't beat around the bush.
"Years of coaching have worn
out. I'm planning to retire."
Just like in the canon plot, he had reached the end of his road this year.
Had it not been for Riko's condition, Tendou would've already been promoted to captain.
Shirogane had waited just for him.
"I'm not in the mood for heavy talks right now."
"You're a man. Sooner or later, you'll have to bear the heavy stuff."
"Fine. If we're done, I'm heading out."
"Then I'll take that as a yes."
Tendou waved with his water bottle in hand and started walking away.
Captain, huh?
Sure, why not.
He could flaunt that title later:
"The Generation of Miracles? I led them to victory."
"Tendou…"
"You sure talk a lot today, old man. Can you just get to the point already?"
"Just one last thing." Shirogane smiled.
"Co visit this old man sotis."
"Leave that to your actual kids, gramps. I'm out."
Tendou didn't look back.
Shirogane watched him leave, eyes filled with sothing like pride, or maybe sorrow.
Soon, he would be leaving the club he had devoted his life to.
Tendou—he was the one Shirogane had always favored.
...
The next day.
National Semifinals – Final Four
Tendou—now wearing the captain's armband handed down from Nijimura—led the team onto the court.
After warmups, the players naturally gathered in a huddle.
Normally, this was when Shirogane would give a speech or shout a slogan.
But now, with Fujimura taking over, he felt imnse pressure.
He wasn't as seasoned as the previous coach.
The players waited… and waited… and nothing ca out of his mouth.
Tendou had to step up.
He reached out and pulled Kise and Midorima into a shoulder hug.
Seeing this, the others followed, throwing arms around each other, forming a circle around their new captain.
Waiting for Tendou's first captain's speech.
"So say, 'Certain people are destined to fail, while others are destined to succeed.'"
"Well, I say—they're absolutely right."
"We're just the kind of bastards who were born to win."
『Bastards!』
『So damn smug!』
『He's right and I hate it!』
『So are born in Ro, others born to carry it…』
『First he stabs us with feels, now he slaps us with arrogance??』
Fans thought he'd deliver so deep, emotional speech…
Instead, they got this cocky nonsense.
And yet, sohow—it felt real.
Not overly dramatic. Not ani-staged. Just genuinely Teikō.
Finally, Tendou shouted:
"Teikō!"
Everyone answered:
"Victory!"
Pulling his arm sleeve up to the elbow, Tendou turned—
Flanked by the four strongest players in the series—
And marched onto the court to face their trembling opponents.
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